U.S. patent number 6,963,349 [Application Number 09/619,540] was granted by the patent office on 2005-11-08 for information processing apparatus, control method therefor, and computer-readable memory.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Katsuhiko Nagasaki.
United States Patent |
6,963,349 |
Nagasaki |
November 8, 2005 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Information processing apparatus, control method therefor, and
computer-readable memory
Abstract
A RAM stores a management table for making the indication state
of an indicator in the display direction correspond to control
information for controlling the operation an information processing
apparatus for the indication state. A CPU detects the indication
state of the indicator, and controls the operation of the
information processing apparatus on the basis of control
information of the management table corresponding to the detection
result.
Inventors: |
Nagasaki; Katsuhiko (Kawasaki,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Tokyo,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
26516596 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/619,540 |
Filed: |
July 19, 2000 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 22, 1999 [JP] |
|
|
11-208017 |
May 30, 2000 [JP] |
|
|
2000-160610 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/649; 715/783;
715/784; 715/785; 715/786; 715/787; 715/973 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
1/1626 (20130101); G06F 3/0362 (20130101); G06F
3/038 (20130101); G06F 3/0485 (20130101); G06F
2200/1614 (20130101); Y10S 715/973 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
15/02 (20060101); G09G 5/00 (20060101); G06F
3/023 (20060101); G09G 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;345/784-787,973,919,781,764,778 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Bella; Matthew C.
Assistant Examiner: Rahmjoo; Mike
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper &
Scinto
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An information processing apparatus comprising: display means
for displaying information in a display region, wherein the display
region has an adjustable orientation, and wherein the information
displayed in the display region has an orientation controllable to
correspond to the orientation of the display region; input means
affixed to the information processing apparatus for inputting
directional information, wherein said input means is a jog dial
switch or a shuttle switch; designation means for designating a
display orientation of the display region; storage means for
storing a management table for storing control signals, wherein
said management table is indexed by directional information and
display orientation; and control means for controlling the
scrolling of information displayed in the display region by
selecting control signals stored in the management table
corresponding to the directional information input by said input
means and the display orientation designated by said designation
means.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display region
has a rectangular shape, and can be oriented in a vertical
direction for displaying a display window with a long side of the
rectangle directed vertically, or in a horizontal direction for
displaying the display window with the long side directed
horizontally, wherein, when said display region is oriented in a
vertical direction, said control signals control a vertical scroll
operation, and wherein, when the display region is oriented in a
horizontal direction, said control signals control a horizontal
scroll operation.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display region
has a rectangular shape, and can be oriented in a vertical
direction for displaying a display window with a long side of the
rectangle directed vertically, or in a horizontal direction for
displaying the display window with the long side directed
horizontally, wherein, when the display region is oriented in a
vertical direction, said control signals control a vertical scroll
operation, and wherein, when the display region is oriented in a
horizontal direction, said control signals control a vertical
scroll operation.
4. An information processing apparatus comprising: display means
for displaying information in a display region, wherein the display
region has an adjustable orientation, and wherein the information
displayed in the display region has an orientation controllable to
correspond to the orientation of the display region; input means
affixed to the information processing apparatus for inputting
directional information, wherein said input means is a jog dial
switch or a shuttle switch; designation means for designating a
display orientation of the display region; storage means for
storing a management table for storing control signals, wherein
said management table is indexed by directional information and
display orientation; and control means for controlling a focusing
operation to a plurality of focusing targets displayed in the
display region by selecting control signals stored in the
management table corresponding to the directional information input
by said input means and the display orientation designated by the
designation means.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 4, wherein said
designation means includes a predetermined icon in the display
region.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 4, wherein said control
means comprises change means for changing the control signals
stored in the management table by adjusting said input means.
7. A control method for an information processing apparatus, said
method comprising: a display step of displaying information in a
display region, wherein the display region has an adjustable
orientation, and wherein the information displayed in the display
region has an orientation controllable to correspond to the
orientation of the display region; an input step of inputting
directional information using a jog dial or a shuttle switch
affixed to the information processing apparatus; a designation step
of designating a display orientation of the display region; a
storage step of storing a management table for storing control
signals, wherein the management table is indexed by directional
information and display orientation; and a control step of
controlling the scrolling of information displayed in the display
region by selecting control signals stored in the management table
corresponding to the directional information input in the input
step and the display orientation designated in the designation
step.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the display region has
a rectangular shape, and can be oriented in a vertical direction
for displaying a display window with a long side of the rectangle
directed vertically, or in a horizontal direction for displaying
the display window with the long side directed horizontally,
wherein, when the display region is oriented in a vertical
direction, said control signals control a vertical scroll
operation, and wherein, when the display region is oriented in a
horizontal direction, the control signals control a horizontal
scroll operation.
9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the display region has
a rectangular shape, and can be oriented in a vertical direction
for displaying a display window with a long side of the rectangle
directed vertically, or in a horizontal direction for displaying
the display window with the long side directed horizontally,
wherein, when the display region is oriented in a vertical
direction, said control signals control a vertical scrolling
operation, and wherein, when the display region is oriented in a
horizontal direction, said control signals control a vertical
scroll operation.
10. An control method for an information processing apparatus, said
method comprising: a display step of displaying information in a
display region, wherein the display region has an adjustable
orientation, and wherein the information displayed in the display
region has an orientation controllable to correspond to the
orientation of the display region; an input step of inputting
directional information using a jog dial or a shuttle switch
affixed to the information processing apparatus; a designation step
of designating a display orientation of the display region; a
storage step of storing a management table for storing control
signals, wherein the management table is indexed by directional
information and display orientation; and a control step of
controlling a focusing operation to a plurality of focusing targets
displayed in the display region by selecting control signals stored
in the management table corresponding to the directional
information input in said input step and the display orientation
designated in the designation step.
11. The method according to claim 7 or 10, wherein said designation
step includes displaying a predetermined icon in the display
region.
12. The method according to claim 7 or 10, wherein said control
step comprises a change step of changing the control signals stored
in the management table by adjusting the jog dial or shuttle.
13. A computer-readable memory which stores program codes for
controlling an information processing apparatus, said
computer-readable memory comprising program codes of: a display
step of displaying information in a display region, wherein the
display region has an adjustable orientation, and wherein the
information displayed in the display region has an orientation
controllable to correspond to the orientation of the display
region; an input step of inputting directional information using a
jog dial switch or a shuttle switch affixed to the information
processing apparatus; a designation step of designating a display
orientation of the display region; a storage step of storing a
management table for storing control signals, wherein said
management table is indexed by directional information and display
orientation; and a control step of controlling the scrolling of
information displayed in the display region by selecting control
signals stored in the management table corresponding to the
directional information input in said input step and the display
orientation designated in said designation step.
14. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display region
has a rectangular shape, and can be oriented in a vertical
direction for displaying a display window with a long side of the
rectangle directed vertically, or in a horizontal direction for
displaying the display window with the long side directed
horizontally, wherein, when the display region is oriented in a
vertical direction, said control signals control a vertical
focusing operation, and wherein, when the display region is
oriented in a horizontal direction, said control signals control a
horizontal focusing operation.
15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the display region
has a rectangular shape, and can be oriented in a vertical
direction for displaying a display window with a long side of the
rectangle directed vertically, or in a horizontal direction for
displaying the display window with the long side directed
horizontally, and wherein, when the display region is oriented in a
vertical direction, said control signals control a vertical
focusing operation, and wherein, when the display region is
oriented in a horizontal direction, said control signals control a
vertical focusing operation.
16. A computer-readable memory for storing program code for
controlling an information processing apparatus, said program code
comprising: code for a display step of displaying information in a
display region, wherein the display region has an adjustable
orientation, and wherein the information displayed in the display
region has an orientation controllable to correspond to the
orientation of the display region; code for an input step of
inputting directional information using a jog dial or a shuttle
switch affixed to the information processing apparatus; code for a
designation step of designating a display orientation of the
display region; code for a storage step of storing a management
table for storing control signals, wherein the management table is
indexed by directional information and display orientation; and
code for a control step of controlling a focusing operation to a
plurality of focusing targets displayed in the display region by
selecting control signals stored in the management table
corresponding to the directional information input in said input
step and the display orientation designated in the designation
step.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing
apparatus having an indicator, a control method therefor, and a
computer-readable memory.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In many cases, a portable terminal device having a jog dial switch
or shuttle switch is operated by a different method from that of a
so-called desktop terminal device. The desktop terminal device
mainly uses a keyboard or mouse as an input device, whereas the
portable terminal device is operated by a pen input or button
input. In recent years, input devices such as a shuttle switch and
jog dial switch for enabling rotation operation and push operation
with one device are becoming available.
The input devices such as a shuttle switch and jog dial switch are
used for operations such as switching of the menu and scroll of the
display window. This provides the user with high operability
because rotation operation or slide operation directly and readily
links with an operation on the display window.
The portable terminal device is generally used in the user's hand.
Because of a small size, a terminal device whose screen is
generally vertically directed can be used with a horizontally
elongated screen, and vice versa. In this case, the display
direction of the display window is also switched.
In this case, however, the rotational direction of the shuttle
switch or jog dial does not coincide with the operating direction
on the display window, which has not been considered. This will be
exemplified with reference to FIG. 3.
In FIG. 3, when the portable terminal device is used with a
vertically elongated screen 4000, rotation operation of a jog dial
406 is vertical rotation operation for the user. When the portable
terminal device is used with a horizontally elongated screen 4100,
rotation operation of the jog dial 406 is horizontal rotation
operation for the user. For example, rotation operation of the jog
dial 406 is assigned to vertical scroll of the vertically elongated
screen 4000. In this case, even if the user horizontally rotates
the jog dial 406 in use with the horizontally elongated screen
4100, the screen is vertically scrolled. The conventional
user-friendly device makes the user feel the operation
difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to overcome the conventional
drawbacks, and has as its object to provide an information
processing apparatus capable of easily operating the apparatus, a
control method therefor, and a computer-readable memory.
To achieve the above object, an information processing-apparatus
according to the present invention comprises the following
arrangement.
That is, an information processing apparatus having an indicator
comprises designation means for designating a display direction of
a display, storage means for storing a management table for making
an indication state of the indicator in the display direction
correspond to control information for controlling an operation of
the information processing apparatus for the indication state,
detection means for detecting the indication state of the
indicator, and control means for controlling the operation of the
information processing apparatus on the basis of control
information of the management table corresponding to a detection
result of the detection means.
The management table preferably makes the indication state of the
indicator in the display direction correspond to control
information for controlling scroll operation of a display window of
the display.
The management table preferably makes the indication state of the
indicator in the display direction correspond to control
information for controlling focusing operation to a plurality of
focusing targets in a display window of the display.
The designation means preferably includes a predetermined icon in
the display.
The control means preferably comprises change means for changing
contents of the management table on the basis of the indication
state of the indicator.
The indicator preferably includes at least either one of a jog dial
switch and a shuttle switch.
The detection means preferably detects an indication direction and
an indication amount of the indicator.
To achieve the above object, a control method for an information
processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises
the following steps.
That is, a control method for an information processing apparatus
having an indicator comprises the designation step of designating a
display direction of a display, the storage step of storing a
management table for making an indication state of the indicator in
the display direction correspond to control information for
controlling an operation of the information processing apparatus
for the indication state, the detection step of detecting the
indication state of the indicator, and the control step of
controlling the operation of the information processing apparatus
on the basis of control information of the management table
corresponding to a detection result in the detection step.
To achieve the above object, a computer-readable memory according
to the present invention comprises the following program codes.
That is, a computer-readable memory which stores program codes for
controlling an information processing apparatus having an indicator
comprises program codes of the designation step of designating a
display direction of a display, the storage step of storing a
management table for making an indication state of the indicator in
the display direction correspond to control information for
controlling an operation of the information processing apparatus
for the indication state, the detection step of detecting the
indication state of the indicator, and the control step of
controlling the operation of the information processing apparatus
on the basis of control information of the management table
corresponding to a detection result in the detection step.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be
apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters
designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures
thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware arrangement of a
portable terminal device according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a view showing memory maps in a RAM and ROM according to
the first embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a view showing the schematic appearance of the portable
terminal device according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing processing executed in the first
embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing processing executed in the first
embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a view showing the schematic appearance of a portable
terminal device according to the second embodiment;
FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing processing executed in the third
embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a view showing the schematic appearance of a portable
terminal device according to the fourth embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of the memory contents of the
RAM in the first embodiment; and
FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing details of step S108 in the first
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in
detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First Embodiment
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware arrangement of a
portable terminal device according to the first embodiment.
Reference numeral 201 denotes a CPU for controlling various
building elements of the portable terminal device; 202, a jog dial
switch used to operate the display window of a display 207; 203, a
jog dial controller for controlling the operation of the jog dial
switch; and 204, a RAM functioning as the work areas of various
processes and a temporary data save area. The RAM 204 (FIG. 2) has
a operation table memory area for storing a jog dial operation
table for managing the operation of the jog dial switch 202 of the
portable terminal device and an operation of the display window
corresponding to this operation, and a VRAM data creation area for
creating data for the display window.
Reference numeral 205 denotes a display memory (VRAM) for storing
display data to be displayed on the display 207; and 206, a display
controller for controlling display of display data stored in the
VRAM 205. The display 207 is made up of an LCD (Liquid Crystal
Display) and the like, and displays various data, windows, and the
like. The display 207 has a rectangular shape, and allows executing
an operation on a vertically elongated screen for displaying a
display window with the long side directed vertically, or on a
horizontally elongated screen for displaying a display window with
the long side directed horizontally.
Reference numeral 208 denotes a digitizer for detecting an input
from an input pen 211 and outputting a signal corresponding to the
detected input; 209, a digitizer controller; and 210, a ROM storing
programs and the like. The ROM 210 stores an operating system (OS)
for realizing processing on the portable terminal device, and
application programs for executing various processes. The ROM 210
has a display direction setting memory area for storing display
direction setting representing the display direction of the
portable terminal device, and a font data memory area for storing
various font data. The input pen 211 enables an input for executing
various operations of the portable terminal device using the
digitizer 208.
The schematic appearance of the portable terminal device will be
described with reference to FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 is a view showing the schematic appearance of the portable
terminal device according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 3, the portable terminal device can be operated
with a vertically elongated screen 4000 and horizontally elongated
screen 4100.
On the vertically elongated screen 4000, reference numeral 401
denotes a display window for displaying a window, menu, and the
like; 402, a menu display window for executing a predetermined
desired operation by tapping icons aligned on the window; 403, a
vertical scroll bar for vertically scrolling the display window;
404, a horizontal scroll bar for horizontally scrolling the display
window; 405, a display direction change icon ({character pullout})
indicating a change in the display direction of the display window;
and 406, a jog dial switch for executing various operations such as
scroll of the display window.
A jog dial operation table in the first embodiment will be
described with reference to FIG. 3. The jog dial operation table in
the first embodiment is a table for managing control information
for the operation of the display window with respect to the
operation of the jog dial switch 406 on each of the vertically
elongated screen 4000 and horizontally elongated screen 4100 in
FIG. 3. More specifically, this table manages control information
for realizing the following operations.
Vertically Elongated Screen
(1) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Vertically Elongated Screen
4000 in Direction A
The scroll bar 403 moves up in accordance with the rotation amount,
and display contents in the window are scrolled up in accordance
with the rotation amount.
(2) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Vertically Elongated Screen
4000 in Direction B
The scroll bar 403 moves down in accordance with the rotation
amount, and display contents in the window are scrolled down in
accordance with the rotation amount.
Horizontally Elongated Screen
(1) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Horizontally Elongated
Screen 4100 in Direction A
The scroll bar 404 moves to the right in accordance with the
rotation amount, and display contents in the window are scrolled to
the right in accordance with the rotation amount.
(2) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Horizontally Elongated
Screen 4100 in Direction B
The scroll bar 404 moves to the left in accordance with the
rotation amount, and display contents in the window are scrolled to
the left in accordance with the rotation amount.
When the display direction of the portable terminal device
coincides with the vertically elongated screen 4000, control
information of the jog dial operation table for the vertically
elongated screen is set. When the display direction of the portable
terminal device coincides with the horizontally elongated screen
4100, control information of the jog dial operation table for the
horizontally elongated screen is set.
Processing executed in the first embodiment will be described with
reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
FIGS. 4 and 5 are flow charts showing processing executed in the
first embodiment.
Whether the device is turned on is checked (step S101). If the
device is not turned on (NO in step S101), the flow waits until the
device is turned on. If the device is turned on (YES in step S101),
the flow shifts to step S102. Display direction setting set in the
ROM 210 in advance is read (step S102). A window is displayed in
accordance with the read display direction setting (step S103). In
the first embodiment, the vertically elongated screen 4000 in FIG.
3 is set as the display direction setting.
If window display ends in accordance with the display direction
setting, and control information of the jog dial operation table
for this display direction (in this case, the vertically elongated
screen) is set, whether an input has been received from the user is
checked (step S104). If no input has been received (No in step
S104), the flow waits until an input is received. If an input has
been received (YES in step S104), the flow advances to step
S105.
If YES in step S104, whether the input is a power-off request is
checked (step S105). If the input is a power-off request (YES in
step S105), the flow shifts to step S106 to turn off the device. If
the input is not a power-off request (NO in step S105), the flow
shifts to step S107.
Whether the input is a tap on the display direction change icon 405
with the input pen 211 is checked (step S107). If the input is not
a tap (NO in step S107), the flow shifts to step S110 in FIG. 5. If
the input is a tap (YES in step S107), the flow shifts to step S108
in FIG. 5.
The display controller 206 changes the display direction (step
S108). Control information of the jog dial operation table is
changed to one for the changed display direction (in this case, the
horizontally elongated screen) (step S109). Then, the flow returns
to step S104 to wait for an input.
If NO in step S107, whether the input is rotation operation of the
jog dial switch 406 is checked (step S110). If the input is not
rotation operation (NO in step S110), the flow shifts to step S111
to analyze the input. Processing corresponding to the input is
executed based on the analysis result (step S112).
If the input is rotation operation (YES in step S110), the jog dial
controller 203 detects the rotational direction and rotation amount
of rotation operation, and transmits the information to the CPU 201
(step S113). The CPU 201 looks up the jog dial operation table
based on the received information (step S114). Then, the display
window is controlled based on the looked-up jog dial operation
table (step S115). After the display window is controlled, the flow
returns to step S104 to wait for an input.
Detailed display direction change operation in step S108 will be
explained with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.
As described above, data of the display 207 is stored in the VRAM
205. As is apparent from the display window of FIG. 3, not the
entire text but only part of the text is displayed depending on the
window. At this time, data of the entire text is stored in the VARM
data creation area of the RAM 204, and only data of an area to be
displayed is transferred to the VRAM 205 upon completion of data
creation. FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the memory contents
of the RAM 204 and data of an area transferred to the VRAM 205.
FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of the memory contents of the
RAM in the first embodiment.
In FIG. 9, reference numeral 903 denotes a VRAM data creation area
of the RAM 204; 901, an area displayed on the vertically elongated
screen 4000, i.e., a data area transferred to the VRAM 205 for the
vertically elongated screen 4000; and 902, an area displayed on the
horizontally elongated screen 4100, i.e., a data area transferred
to the VRAM 205 for the horizontally elongated screen 4100.
Detailed display direction change operation in step S108 in this
case will be explained with reference to FIG. 10.
FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing details of step S108 in the first
embodiment.
Whether the display direction change icon 405 shown in FIG. 3 has
been tapped is checked (step S1001). If the icon 405 has not been
tapped (NO in step S1001), the flow waits until the icon 405 is
tapped. If the icon 405 has been tapped (YES in step S1001), the
flow advances to step S1002, and the CPU 201 instructs the display
controller 206 to clear the display window. In accordance with this
instruction, the display controller 206 clears data stored in the
VRAM 205 except for a data portion corresponding to the menu
display window (step S1002). This is because only the menu display
window is irrelevant to the display direction.
Both vertical and horizontal scroll bar areas are drawn (step
S1003). Since the position and size of each scroll bar are not
known, not the scroll bar itself but only its area is drawn. An
area to be displayed in the window is calculated from all the
display data stored in the VRAM data creation area of the RAM 204
(step S1004).
Data of the calculated area is transferred to the VRAM 205. At this
time, which of vertically elongated screen display and horizontally
elongated screen display is designated is checked (step S1005). If
vertically elongated screen display is designated, the flow shifts
to step S1006 to directly transfer the data to the VRAM 205. If
horizontally elongated screen display is designated, the flow
shifts to step S1007 to execute data rotation calculation for
rotating the data through 90.degree.. After data rotation
calculation, the data is transferred to the VRAM 205 (step
S1008).
After the data is transferred, the position and ratio of the
displayed area with respect to all the data stored in the VRAM data
creation area of the RAM 204 are calculated, and vertical and
horizontal scroll bars are drawn in accordance with the results
(step S1009).
A display control method such as scroll of window contents is well
known, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
According to the first embodiment, rotation operation of the jog
dial switch 406 is vertical scroll when the display direction of
the portable terminal device coincides with the vertically
elongated screen 4000, and horizontal scroll when the display
direction coincides with the horizontally elongated screen 4100.
Thus, the user-friendly device can be enhanced.
In this embodiment, the display direction upon power-on operation
is based on the display direction setting in the ROM 210, but the
present invention is not limited to this. For example, a writable
nonvolatile memory such as a flash ROM can be employed to store a
previous display direction as display direction setting in
power-off operation, and the display direction of the display
direction setting can be set in the next power-on operation.
The display direction is switched by tapping the display direction
change icon 405 with the input pen 211, but the present invention
is not limited to this. For example, the display direction may be
switched by another means such as a mechanical switch. The display
direction is switched between two directions, but the present
invention is not limited to this. For example, four directions can
be prepared in accordance with the specifications of the portable
terminal device.
The menu display window including the display direction change icon
405 is not limited to a liquid crystal display. For example, a seal
having a printed image for implementing the function of the display
direction change icon 405 can be put on the surface of the
digitizer 208, and the user can touch the seal to change the
display direction.
Second Embodiment
Although rotation operation of the jog dial switch scrolls the
display window in the first embodiment, rotation operation may be
associated with another operation. In the second embodiment,
rotation operation of the jog dial switch is made to correspond to
operation of moving the focus when a plurality of focusing targets
are displayed.
A repetitive description to the first embodiment will be
omitted.
FIG. 6 is a view showing the schematic appearance of a portable
terminal device according to the second embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 6, a vertically elongated screen 4000 displays the
push buttons of a telephone set.
On the vertically elongated screen 4000, a button "1" is focused.
The focus on the button can be sequentially switched by rotating a
jog dial switch 406.
A jog dial operation switch in the second embodiment will be
described with reference to FIG. 6.
The jog dial operation switch in the second embodiment is a table
for managing control information for the operation of the display
window with respect to the operation of the jog dial switch 406 on
each of the vertically elongated screen 4000 and a horizontally
elongated screen 4100 in FIG. 6. More specifically, this table
manages control information for realizing the following
operations.
Vertically Elongated Screen
(1) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Vertically Elongated Screen
4000 in Direction A
The focus is switched in the following order:
"1".fwdarw."#".fwdarw."9".fwdarw."6".fwdarw."3".fwdarw."0".fwdarw."8".fwdar
w."5".fwdarw."2".fwdarw."*".fwdarw."7".fwdarw."4".fwdarw."1".fwdarw.
(2) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Vertically Elongated Screen
4000 in Direction B
The focus is switched in the following order:
"1".fwdarw."4".fwdarw."7".fwdarw."*".fwdarw."2".fwdarw."5".fwdarw."8".fwdar
w."0".fwdarw."3" "6".fwdarw."9""#" .fwdarw."1" .fwdarw.
Horizontally Elongated Screen
(1) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Horizontally Elongated
Screen 4100 in Direction A
The focus is switched in the following order:
"1".fwdarw."2".fwdarw."3".fwdarw."4".fwdarw."5".fwdarw."6".fwdarw."7".fwdar
w."8".fwdarw."9".fwdarw."*".fwdarw."0".fwdarw."#".fwdarw."1".fwdarw.
(2) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Horizontally Elongated
Screen 4100 in Direction B
The focus is switched in the following order:
"1".fwdarw."#".fwdarw."0".fwdarw."*".fwdarw."9".fwdarw."8".fwdarw."7".fwdar
w."6".fwdarw."5".fwdarw."4".fwdarw."3".fwdarw."2".fwdarw."1".fwdarw.
When the display direction of the portable terminal device
coincides with the vertically elongated screen 4000, control
information of the jog dial operation table for the vertically
elongated screen is set. When the display direction of the portable
terminal device coincides with the horizontally elongated screen
4100, control information of the jog dial operation table for the
horizontally elongated screen is set.
Since the second embodiment can make the moving direction of the
focus on the button coincide with the rotational direction of the
jog dial switch 406, the user can attain high operability.
The first and second embodiments can be simultaneously practiced by
switching them in accordance with the application when the portable
terminal device includes a plurality of applications. In this case,
a jog dial operation table is prepared for each application.
Third Embodiment
In the first and second embodiments, if the display direction is
changed, the operating direction of the jog dial switch is
automatically changed. Alternatively, the user may arbitrarily
designate this operating direction. The operating direction is
designated by, e.g., pushing the jog dial switch. Processing in
this case will be explained with reference to FIG. 7.
FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing processing executed in the third
embodiment.
The same step numbers as in the first embodiment denote the same
steps, and a description thereof will be omitted.
If a display direction change icon 405 is determined in step S107
to be tapped, whether a jog dial switch 406 has been pushed is
checked (step S601). If the jog dial switch 406 has not been pushed
(NO in step S601), the flow shifts to step S108. If the jog dial
switch 406 has been pushed (YES in step S601), the flow shifts to
step S602 to change the display window without changing control
information of the jog dial operation table for the currently set
display direction, and returns to step S104 to wait for an
input.
As described above, the third embodiment can arbitrarily change the
operating direction of the jog dial switch in accordance with the
intended use of the user.
Since the user can decide whether an operation corresponding to the
operation of the jog dial switch is changed in accordance with the
display direction of the portable terminal device, the user can
operate the device in a preferable environment.
In the third embodiment, the operating direction of the jog dial
switch is changed based on whether the jog dial switch has been
pushed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For
example, the operating direction can be changed by another method,
e.g., tapping or double-tapping the display direction change
icon.
Fourth Embodiment
In the first embodiment, the operation of the jog dial switch 406
is associated with vertical scroll on the vertically elongated
screen 4000, and horizontal scroll on the horizontally elongated
screen 4100. In the second embodiment, the focus moving direction
is the vertical direction on the vertically elongated screen 4000,
and the horizontal direction on the horizontally elongated screen
4100. In this manner, different jog dial operation tables are
adopted for the jog dial switch 406. Alternatively, a different
change method can be employed.
In the first embodiment, for example, the operation of the jog dial
switch 406 can be kept associated with vertical scroll on both the
vertically elongated screen 4000 and horizontally elongated screen
4100, and control information set in the jog dial operation table
can be exchanged in accordance with the directions A and B of the
jog dial switch 406.
A jog dial operation table in the fourth embodiment will be
explained with reference to FIG. 8.
FIG. 8 is a view showing the schematic appearance of a portable
terminal device according to the fourth embodiment.
The jog dial operation table in the fourth embodiment is a table
for managing control information for the operation of the display
window with respect to the operation of a jog dial switch 406 on
each of a vertically elongated screen 4000 and horizontally
elongated screen 4100 in FIG. 8. More specifically, this table
manages control information for realizing the following
operations.
Vertically Elongated Screen
(1) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Vertically Elongated Screen
4000 in Direction A
A scroll bar 403 moves up in accordance with the rotation amount,
and display contents in the window are scrolled up in accordance
with the rotation amount.
(2) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Vertically Elongated Screen
4000 in Direction B
The scroll bar 403 moves down in accordance with the rotation
amount, and display contents in the window are scrolled down in
accordance with the rotation amount.
Horizontally Elongated Screen
(1) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Horizontally Elongated
Screen 4100 in Direction A
The scroll bar 403 moves down in accordance with the rotation
amount, and display contents in the window are scrolled down in
accordance with the rotation amount.
(2) Rotation of Jog Dial Switch 406 of Horizontally Elongated
Screen 4100 in Direction B
The scroll bar 403 moves up in accordance with the rotation amount,
and display contents in the window are scrolled up in accordance
with the rotation amount.
Processing executed in the fourth embodiment is the same as that
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and a description thereof will be
omitted.
According to the fourth embodiment, rotation operation of the jog
dial switch 406 corresponds to vertical scroll regardless of
whether the display direction of the portable terminal device
coincides with the vertically elongated screen 4000 or horizontally
elongated screen 4100. In general, the user holds a portable
terminal device in his/her left hand and operates the jog dial
switch 406 with his/her left thumb. Considering this, the display
window on the vertically elongated screen 4000 is scrolled up when
the user's finger moves upward, and scrolled down when the user's
finger moves downward. The display window on the horizontally
elongated screen 4100 is scrolled down, i.e., in a direction in
which the text is read forward when the user's finger stretches in
a rising direction, and scrolled up, i.e., in a direction in which
the text is read backward when the user's finger bends in a retreat
direction. This structure can implement an ergonomic user-friendly
device.
The first to fourth embodiments have exemplified processing for the
operating direction of the jog dial switch. This also applies to
the shuttle switch.
The present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a
plurality of devices (e.g., a host computer, interface device,
reader, and printer) or an apparatus comprising a single device
(e.g., a copying machine or facsimile apparatus).
The object of the present invention is realized even by supplying a
storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the
functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or
apparatus, and causing the computer (or a CPU or MPU) of the system
or apparatus to read out and execute the program codes stored in
the storage medium.
In this case, the program codes read out from the storage medium
realize the functions of the above-described embodiments by
themselves, and the storage medium storing the program codes
constitutes the present invention.
As a storage medium for supplying the program codes, a floppy disk,
hard disk, optical disk, magnetooptical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R,
magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like can be
used.
The functions of the above-described embodiments are realized not
only when the readout program codes are executed by the computer
but also when the OS (Operating System) running on the computer
performs part or all of actual processing on the basis of the
instructions of the program codes.
The functions of the above-described embodiments are also realized
when the program codes readout from the storage medium are written
in the memory of a function expansion board inserted into the
computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer,
and the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion
unit performs part or all of actual processing on the basis of the
instructions of the program codes.
When the present invention is applied to the above storage medium,
the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flow
charts shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7.
As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present
invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope
thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the
appended claims.
* * * * *